RadChan

2 minutes ago, Dags said:

I'm sorry to hear that! We've just sent our expedite request today and just wondering when i can expect hearing something. This is  with NVCexpedite@state.gov

 

That is where we sent it. I would say 4 or 5 days to get an acknowledgement then the decision within a week if it is a rejection, can't speak for acceptances - possibly longer to allow them to investigate and get approval or something? 

5 minutes ago, Hannahl4211 said:

Same for me; we had a legitimate reason, and they rejected us which is so disheartening. And then I read other people from other embassies get approved because it’s their birthday the next month and they want to be together. I feel like the London embassy is much harsher than others maybe. DQ since May30 and just praying we hear soon- it’s been 4.5 months!

I get this idea, too. Seems Manila and Sydney embassies simply "we miss each other" or "want to spend our anniversary together" are accepted. Ah well. Seems like London is allowing only a very few cases through!

5 minutes ago, Dags said:

have anyone recently tried to expedite NVC processing? 

We tried around Sep 26th, got acknowledged a few days laters and turned down on Saturday (just a few days ago.)

12 minutes ago, Bobnrob said:

OK then guess you got it all sorted. Good luck. 

Thanks! Same to you. Of course, thing aren't quite "normal" right now, and I know the embassy could get behind or ahead again. But that thread has been a lifeline for those of us still waiting and trying to guess a rough time line  

39 minutes ago, Bobnrob said:

So you mustn't mix up dcf filers who schedule their own appointments, and expedite cases. You will find a lot of those dates you mentioned are probably either or. 

I didn't. The ones listed are all ones who were assigned dates via email, not ones who booked their own. And none of them are expedited. I can also confirm I am not cherry picking and ignoring anyone who received an interview 6 or 7 months after their DQ date, that is pretty much everyone non-expedited who posted about their experience last month around Sep 10 / 11th/ 

I'll be keeping an eye on the thread on Thursday this week to see if other people have consistent experiences!

Just now, Bobnrob said:

Thanks also hoping for Thursday. You gotta remember vj members are a tiny % of visas so the time lines are just a very rough indicator. They give 30 days notice normally so 9/10th of November hoping. There are quite a few of us here with similar dates to ours. Good luck too!

It looks like they are still working through may. We are June 1st so at this rate hoping for mid November . So the 5 months thing is not right. Hopefully July for you will before Xmas earliest. Hoping they speed up for all of us. 

Thanks! I know it is a small sample, but it seems quite consistent.

Had a quick scan and I found (including all the ones in there!)

May 15th for Oct 15th interview

May 27th for Oct 27th

May 7th for Oct 1

May 30th for Oct 28th

All those were notified on Sep 10th, one is within 3 weeks! So there may be hope for you yet  Fingers crossed!

15 minutes ago, Bobnrob said:

It looks like they are still working through may. We are June 1st so at this rate hoping for mid November . So the 5 months thing is not right. Hopefully July for you will before Xmas earliest. Hoping they speed up for all of us. 

I'm surprised to read this. Pretty much everyone I have seen on the CR-1 mega-thread has got interview dates almost 5 months to the date they DQ'd (with a couple of exceptions of people 7 days or so before or after that date). I would expect you will hear back on Thursday for a Nov 1st interview date?! Not a lot of notice but would fit with what I have seen. Will be watching that thread on Thursday, and keeping my fingers crossed for you! 

1 hour ago, Wuozopo said:

The home delivery option is not an expedited service. Everybody London has courier service. If you want it to your home, you pay. If you want to pick it up at your closest courier depot, it’s free. You register your appointment and pick your delivery choice online (and pay) prior to interview.
 

Once the visa is issued, everything is turned over to the courier who packages your passport for delivery. The courier notifies you of your tracking number. Almost without exception, whether London or Inverness or Northern Ireland, the day after your courier notification will be your delivery day or Depot pick up day, ie one day service. One is not faster than the other.  Only some very remote Islands in Scotland might take longer than 1 day from when the courier assembles your package. 
 

Typical delivery for years has been one week after your interview, but just lately it has been faster presumably because very few visas are being processed with K1s, tourist, and work visas etc halted. There’s no daily queue of hundreds In the visa printing area or courier area. I think delivery 48 hours after interview is a little ambitious but have read some 3-5 days recently instead of 7.  

ahh, ok- I read about a premium service and presumed it was for fast delivery. 19 pounds is a big fee just for local depot to your house! Sounds like you are more clued in on the process than I am!

3-5 days may be more common, but I saw a couple within 48 hours (might have just been the majority random sample I read! Someone on page 50 mentioned it, for example, but I can't link to it) 

But I won't factor in a 2-day delivery as a given in my flight booking.

anyway, thanks for sharing your insight!

55 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

How many of those are London? 

All of them - at least all via the London embassy. I have just been reading the CR1 UK mega-thread. I think it is pinned in the UK forum. I say "majority", I haven't read the entire thread (just the past month or two) but it certainly seems that lots of people who have paid for expedited courier services got their visas in their hands 2 days later (I haven't made it to this stage yet, so hadn't realised that is an option but it seem to be working!) Another person interviewed on a Monday and had the visa by Thursday. Not sure how much longer the non-courier service is, I know the official line is 2 weeks. 

Again, these people might have also lived in London itself, which would help - I am guessing those living in inverness might take a day or two more to receive theirs! 

But please go check the mega thread yourselves. It has definitely been a source of more useful info for us than the lawyers, who only ever give the "official" line which is "we don't know." However, seeing how other people have progressed has been much more helpful, and it seems to be interview exactly 5 months after DQ and then get the visa a couple of days later if they paid for the courier. 

2 hours ago, PBabz said:

I'm super intrigued to see if you are right about the interview timeline - not only will it be great news for you and your husband of course, but also a bit of insight for everyone else that has been waiting!

 

Please do come back and update us if you are able to when you receive your interview invitation. 

 

Wishing you and your husband all the best with the process too; it's been hard on so many people so I can only imagine it's been hard on your and your husband too. Good luck and hang in there

The CR-1 visa mega thread is a good place to lurk to see how things progress for other people!

5 minutes ago, Lucky Cat said:

I would not expect any long delays.....just check the visa for errors after you get it......Good luck.

Thank you!

10 minutes ago, Lucky Cat said:

Our case was delayed for 3 months due to inept attorney.........  In what country will the interview be conducted?

Yikes! Sorry to hear that. Attorneys are expensive and you do hope that at the very least they will make sure no mistakes are made. But I hear it can happen. 

I am in the UK, interview will be at the London Embassy. Fingers crossed everything will go smoothly, I have been keeping an eye on everyone else's timelines and it seems interviews are scheduled 5 months to the exact DQ day for 99% of people applying, and the majority have the visa in their hands within 48 hours. 

But we won't be booking any flight tickets without a 100% iron-clad get out clause, just in case!

7 minutes ago, Lucky Cat said:

Booking early would have no effect on the visa process.

Great to know! Thank you

21 minutes ago, user555 said:

Step 1: Fill in your timeline

 

Have you done your medical? How sure are you that you'll pass the interview with all your documents?  

As I mentioned, we want to buy a fully refundable, fully flexible ticket. That means no matter what, we can change it and won't lose any money. There is no gambling involved. 

Also, we have lawyers processing our case so we are quite confident that we will have everything we need! (And if we don't, if it all screws up, we can still get a 100% refund with Delta tickets so long as you cancel 24 hours before)

6 minutes ago, Lucky Cat said:

It's practicality.

 

Possible delays:

1.  Extended Administrative Processing (very common in some regions such as MENA).

2.  Delivery delays/lost after leaving consulate

3.  Mistakes on the visa.  This would require correction.

 

We recommend not booking until after the visa has been received and checked for error.

 

 

Thanks. So it isn't that the fact you have booked will somehow impede the visa process but just so you don't end up losing money. 

I can see how it would be foolish to buy a non-flexible, non-refundable ticket! 

Hi everyone, 

I see a lot of people saying "don't book your flight before your visa is issued" but I just wasn't able to determine whether there is a reason for this beyond " something could go wrong, your visa takes longer than you think and you lose a lot of money." (I did try to Google and check the archive but couldn't find any answer to confirm)

Is it actually frowned upon by the people approving your visa, and if so, could it potentially negatively impact an application? (like, they deny or extend the process or something?)

I DQ'd July 1st so if everyone else's experience is any indicator, I can expect an interview on Dec 1st. I have seen a few instance where people might get it a toucher earlier or later (say Nov 23rd or Dec 6th). Since it is that time of year, prices will be expensive and my husband and I are keen to book ASAP. I was thinking for booking something around Dec 10-12th, however, we would only book with an airline allowing a flexible ticket which we could change with no fees (and usually up until 48 hours before). It could make the difference between paying $400 for a ticket and paying $1500 (if we waited until we had the visa in our hand to book)/ 

Can anyone advise whether there is a reason beyond "you might lose money" for this advice? Obviously if the embassy will frown upon it or get "suspicious" (?!) then we want to avoid that. 

Thanks in advance! 

43 minutes ago, Dags said:

Lets hope lockdown will not happen! 😭

My fingers and toes are all crossed!  I guess I am just paranoid because the embassy still seems to be functioning on a bit of a skeleton crew (not answering phone calls or emails, for example - emails at least seem to get only copy paste "look at our website" replies in my experience!) 

Here is hoping they keep working whatever happens!

Is anyone else concerned that the recent increase in Covid-19 infections and rumblings about a new London lockdown being likely will spook the embassy and cause them to just shut down completely again?

I DQ'd on July 1st and am keeping my fingers crossed to hear something on Thursday (hoping I just squeeze into this group!), so I am really hoping they keep processing spouse visas at least!

2 minutes ago, MattyUKtoUS said:

I just saw this after checking every hour!

 

Hold in there folks! good status's be coming your way soon! 

Congratulations!

2 hours ago, BGjiffy2021 said:

 

(Side note- can't believe the UK embassy hasn't updated their required document list to include medical summary -- looking at this at VJ forum, it's been in place since at least mid-2018!)

Ha, I can! They seem to take an, um, relaxed attitude towards updating the website. It still says a medical costs £290 and not £350, which seems to be the price it was in 2016. 

Amazingly useful! Thank youuuuu!